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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "huge sum of money" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "million united states dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: KEN NNAMANI <sirkennamani@yahoo.com.hk> (may be fake)
Reply-To: sirkennnamani@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Tue, 1 May 2007 17:08:23 +0100
Subject: GOOD DEAL.

From Mr Ken Nnamani .
Branch Accountant.
Union Bank Plc.
Lagos-Nigeria
Attn:Sir/Madam!!!
I am Mr.Ken Nnamani ,Personal Assistant to the Late Charles Fredrick,l
know this proposal will come to you as a surprise because we have not
met before either physically or through correspondence,and I have no
doubt in your ability to handle this proposal involving huge sum of money.
On June 6, 1999, an America Oil consultant/contractor, Late Mr. Charles
Fredrick with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, made a
numbered time (fixed) deposit for twelve calendar months, valued at
US$15,000,000.00 (Fifteen Million United States Dollars) in my branch upon
maturity.I sent a rountine notification to his forwarding address but gotno
reply.After a month,we sent a reminder and finally we discovered from
his contract employers,the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation that
he died in the plane crash of 31 October 1999 with Egyptian 990 with
other passengers aboard.
On further investigation, I found out that he died without making a
WILL,and attempts to trace his next of kin was fruitless.I therefore made
further investigation and discovered that late Mr. Charles Fredrick did
not declare any next of kin or relations in all his official documents,
including his bank deposit paperwork in my bank. This sum of
US$15,000,000.00 is still in my bankand the interest is being rolled over with
the pricipal sum at the end of each year.No one will ever come forward to
claim it.According to Nigerian law, at the expiration of (10) Ten
years, the money will revert to the ownership of the Nigerian Government if
nobody applies to claim the fund.
Consequently,my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to
stand as the next of kin to the Late Mr. Charles Fredrick so that the fruit
of this old man's labour will not get into the hands of some corrupt
Government officials,and I shall employ the service of an Attorney for
the drafting and notarization of the WILL and obtain the necessary
documents and letter of probate/administration in your favour for the
transfer of the fund in any bank account in any part of the world which you
will provide will then facilitate the transfer of this
money to you as the beneficiary/next of kin. The money will be paid
into your account for us to share in ratio of 70/30. There is no risk at
all, the paperwork for this transaction will be done by the attorney and
my position as the Branch Manager guarantees the successful execution
of ths transaction.
To enable us commence on the transaction I will apreciate if you
forward to me the following information stated below.

1. Your full name.....................................................................
2. Your contact address...............................................................
3. Your telephone and fax numbers................................................

Upon the receipt of this information I shall provide you with more
details and relevant documents that will help you understand the
transaction. Please observe utmost confidentiality and be rest assured that this
transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shall
require your assitance to invest my share in your country.
Thanks for your anticipated assistance.
Best Regards,
Mr.Ken Nnamani .
Branch Accountant.
Union Bank Plc.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam